Guidewire interconnecting apparatus

ABSTRACT

A male coupler for a guidewire, the guidewire having a hollow walled tube, the male coupler comprising a connector section, coupled with the guidewire, a portion of the connector section having a diameter smaller than the diameter of the hollow tube, at least one conducting ring coupled with the connector section where the diameter of the connector section is smaller the diameter of the guidewire, wherein the diameter of connecter section and the at least one conducting ring substantially equals the diameter of the guidewire.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNIQUE

The disclosed technique relates to guidewires in general, and to methodsand systems for interconnecting a guidewire which includes electronicelements, in particular.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSED TECHNIQUE

Guidewires are employed in noninvasive operations, for example, toenable a physician to navigate to a desired location within the lumen ofthe body of a patient, and then insert a catheter to the desiredlocation, with the aid of the guidewire. Such guidewires are known inthe art. One type of guidewire includes a sensor positioned in its tip.The sensor is connected with a pair of wires which pass along theguidewire. The wires are connected to a male connector coupled with theguidewire. The male connector connects with a female connector. Thefemale connector is connected to medical equipment.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,090,052 to Akerfeldt et al., entitled “Guide Wire Havinga Male Connector” is directed towards a guidewire which includes acorewire. Electrical leads are connected to the sensor at the distal endof the guidewire. The electrical leads extend along the length of thecorewire over a thin flexible sheet partially wrapped around thecorewire. The flexible sheet has a wider portion at the proximal end ofthe guidewire. The electrical leads connect to conductive strips formedon the wider portion of the flexible sheet. The electrical leads and theconductive strips form the general shape of “a flag pole with a flag.”The wide portion of the flexible sheet, with the conductive strips arewrapped around the proximal end of the corewire, thereby formingcylindrical shaped contacts.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,428,336, to Akerfeldt, entitled “Female so Connector” isdirected towards a female connector for a guidewire including aninsulating hollow housing containing three hollow contact members havingthe shape of a cylinder. The housing includes an opening for inserting amale connector of a guidewire and three contact seats. The housingfurther includes means for securing a male connector of a guidewire inthe female connector. The hollow contact members are disposed on thecontact seats. An interface cable is connected to the contact members. Amale connector is inserted into the opening of the housing and issecured in place by the means for securing. The contact members provideelectrical contact with the male connector.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT DISCLOSED TECHNIQUE

It is an object of the disclosed technique to provide a novel male andfemale couplers for a guidewire.

In accordance with the disclosed technique, there is thus provided amale coupler for a guidewire. The guidewire has a hollow walled tube.The male coupler includes a connector section and at least oneconducting ring. A portion of the connector section has a diametersmaller than the diameter of the hollow tube. The connector section iscoupled with the guidewire. The at least one conducting ring is coupledwith the connector section where the diameter of said connector sectionis smaller than the diameter of the guidewire. The diameter of theconnector section and the at least one conducting ring substantiallyequals the diameter of the guidewire.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed technique, there isthus provided a female coupler for a guidewire. The female couplerincludes a disposable part and a non-disposable part. The disposablepart includes a disposable tubular body, at least one conducting spring,a sheath and a collet. The disposable tubular body has an open end and aclosed end. The at least one conducting spring is coupled with thedisposable tubular body such that each of the at least one conductingspring has a portion thereof in contact with the inner wall of thedisposable tubular body and a portion in contact with the outer wall ofthe disposable tubular body. The sheath is coupled with said disposabletubular body at the open end of the disposable tubular body. The sheathextends towards the closed end of the disposable tubular body. Thecollet is coupled with the open end of said disposable tubular body forsecuring a male coupler within the disposable tubular body. Thenon-disposable part includes a non-disposable tubular body and at leastone contact. The at least one contact is coupled with the non-disposabletubular body such that the circumference of the at least one contactencircles a portion of the circumference of the inner wall of thenon-disposable tubular body. The disposable part is insertable into thenon-disposable part. The at least one conducting spring is in electricalcontact with the at least one contact when the disposable part is fullyinserted into said non-disposable part.

In accordance with a further aspect of the disclosed technique, there isthus provided a guidewire having a hollow walled tube. The guidewireincludes a male connector and a female connector. The male couplerincludes a connector section and at least one conducting ring. A portionof the connector section has a diameter smaller than the diameter of thehollow tube. The connector section is coupled with the guidewire. The atleast one conducting ring is coupled with the connector section wherethe diameter of said connector section is smaller than the diameter ofthe guidewire. The female connector includes a disposable part and anon-disposable part. The disposable part includes a disposable tubularbody, at least one conducting spring, a sheath and a collet. Thedisposable tubular body has an open end and a closed end. The at leastone conducting spring is coupled with the disposable tubular body suchthat each of the at least one conducting spring has a portion thereof incontact with the inner wall of the disposable tubular body and a portionin contact with the outer wall of the disposable tubular body. Thesheath is coupled with said disposable tubular body at the open end ofthe disposable tubular body. The sheath extends towards the closed endof the disposable tubular body. The collet is coupled with the open endof said disposable tubular body for securing a male coupler within thedisposable tubular body. The non-disposable part includes anon-disposable tubular body and at least one contact. The at least onecontact is coupled with the non-disposable tubular body such that thecircumference of the at least one contact encircles a portion of thecircumference of the inner wall of the non-disposable tubular body. Thediameter of the connector section and the at least one conducting ringsubstantially equals the diameter of the guidewire. The disposable partis insertable into the non-disposable part. The at least one conductingspring is in electrical contact with the at least one contact when thedisposable part is fully inserted into said non-disposable part. Themale coupler is insertable into the disposable part of said femalecoupler. When the male coupler is inserted into the female coupler theat least one conducting ring is in electrical contact with a respectiveone of said at least one conducting springs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosed technique will be understood and appreciated more fullyfrom the following detailed description taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective exploded illustration of a guidewire includinga male coupler, constructed and operative in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosed technique;

FIG. 1B is a cross-section illustration of the guidewire of FIG. 1Aalong a plane parallel to the length of the guidewire, constructed andoperative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosedtechnique;

FIG. 1C is a cross-section illustration of the guidewire of FIG. 1Balong a plane perpendicular to the length of the guidewire, constructedand operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosedtechnique;

FIG. 2 is an orthographic illustration of a guidewire insert,constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of thedisclosed technique;

FIG. 3A is a perspective exploded illustration of the guidewire insertof FIG. 2 coupled with a guidewire, constructed and operative inaccordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique;

FIG. 3B is another perspective exploded illustration of the guidewireinsert of FIG. 2 coupled with a guidewire, constructed and operative inaccordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique;

FIG. 3C is a cross-section illustration of the guidewire insertillustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, coupled with a guidewire, constructedand operative in accordance with a further embodiment of the disclosedtechnique;

FIG. 4A is a cross-section illustration of another guidewire insert,constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of thedisclosed technique;

FIG. 4B is a cross-section illustration of the guidewire insert of FIG.4A, coupled with a guidewire, constructed and operative in accordancewith a further embodiment of the disclosed technique;

FIG. 5 is a cross-section illustration of a further guidewire insert,coupled with a guidewire, constructed and operative in accordance withanother embodiment of the disclosed technique;

FIG. 6A, is a schematic perspective exploded illustrations of theguidewire male coupler, constructed and operative in accordance with afurther embodiment of the disclosed technique;

FIG. 6B, is a schematic perspective illustrations of the guidewire malecoupler assembled, constructed and operative in accordance with afurther embodiment of the disclosed technique;

FIG. 6C, is a schematic cross-section illustration of a guidewire malecoupler, along a plane parallel to the length of the male coupler,constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of thedisclosed technique;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are illustrations of cross-sectional views of adisposable part in a female coupler, constructed and operative inaccordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are illustrations of cross-sectional views of anon-disposable part in a female coupler, constructed and operative inaccordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique;

FIG. 9 is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of a male coupler,constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of thedisclosed technique;

FIG. 10A is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of the disposablepart of FIG. 6A inserted into the non-disposable part of FIG. 8A,constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of thedisclosed technique;

FIG. 10B is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of the disposablepart of FIG. 7A inserted into the non-disposable part of FIG. 8A and themale coupler of FIG. 8 inserted into the disposable part of FIG. 7A,constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of thedisclosed technique; and

FIG. 11 is an isometric perspective illustration of a disposable partand a non-disposable part of a female coupler, constructed and operativein accordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The disclosed technique overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art byproviding a novel apparatus and method for interconnecting a guidewire,which includes electronic elements, to an external system. The externalsystem enables electrical signals to be received from the electronicelements of the guidewire. The disclosed technique enables the guidewireto be coupled and decoupled to the external system a plurality of timesin a rapid and simple manner. The apparatus of the disclosed techniqueis designed such that it has the same diameter as the guidewire, therebyenabling catheters and other like devices to be easily positioned on andremoved from the guidewire. In addition, the apparatus of the disclosedtechnique has a strength and stability similar to that of theguidewire's body, thereby enabling the apparatus of the disclosedtechnique to withstand tensile, compressive and rotation forces similarto those that the body of the guidewire can withstand.

It is noted that, as an example, the disclosed technique is describedherein with reference to guidewires. However, the disclosed techniquemay be used with other similar devices, such as stylets, cathetersbearing balloons, stents or other devices for performing interventionalor diagnostic functions, all of which can be used in medicalapplications. Also, throughout the description, the terms “couple,”“connect” and “attach” are used interchangeably, and the terms“decouple,” “disconnect” and “detach” are also used interchangeably. Ingeneral, the disclosed technique relates to apparatuses and methods forinterconnecting guidewires, which include electronic elements, to anexternal system. Such electronic elements may include various types ofsensors, such as heat sensors, pressure sensors, magnetic positionsensors and the like. In general, such sensors are located in a portionof the body of a guidewire and include electrical wires. Such wiresprovide electric signals generated by the sensors to an external systemand also provide electric signals generated by the external system tothe sensors. The external system may be a power supply, an oscilloscope,a computer, medical equipment and the like.

In various applications, guidewires are inserted into different types ofbodies. For example, in medical applications, guidewires may be insertedinto blood vessels, arteries, internal organs and the like of a patient.Such guidewires, which have electronic elements coupled to an externalsystem, need to be decoupled from the external system to enable a user,such as a physician, to slip a device, such as a catheter, over theguidewire. Once the device has been slipped over the guidewire, theguidewire needs to be re-coupled with the external system to enablesignals to be received from the electronic elements. Also, suchguidewires are usually disposable one-time use devices which need to bedecoupled from the external system after each use and thrown away. Incertain medical applications, such guidewires need to be decoupled fromthe external system to be cleaned and sterilized between uses. Asdescribed below, the disclosed technique provides for a system wherebythe electronic elements of the guidewire are coupled with aninterconnecting apparatus. The interconnecting apparatus is physicallycoupled with the guidewire. The interconnecting apparatus includescontact surfaces which can be coupled with an external system forproviding and transferring electrical signals. According to thedisclosed technique, the external system is provided with a receivingapparatus for receiving the interconnecting apparatus which isphysically coupled with the guidewire. In general, the interconnectingapparatus can be referred to as an interconnect, and the two terms“interconnecting apparatus” and “interconnect” are used interchangeablythroughout the description. As a convention used in the description, thesection of the disclosed technique which is physically coupled with theguidewire is referred to as a male coupler, or a male connector, whereasthe section of the disclosed technique which is provided with theexternal system for receiving the male coupler is referred to as afemale coupler, or a female connector. In other words, the disclosedtechnique relates to an interconnect, which includes two sections, amale coupler and a female coupler. As described below, the male coupleris physically coupled with the guidewire and the female coupler isphysically coupled with the external system. The male coupler can berapidly and simply coupled with the female coupler, thereby coupling theelectronic elements of the guidewire to the external system.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1A, which is a perspective explodedillustration of a guidewire including a male coupler, generallyreferenced 100, constructed and operative in accordance with anembodiment of the disclosed technique. In guidewire 100, the malecoupler, as described below, is integrated as a part of the guidewire.Guidewire 100 includes a proximal section 102. Proximal section 102represents the end section of guidewire 100 which is coupled with anexternal system (not shown) and includes a regular section 101, atransition section 104 and a reduced diameter section 106. A distalsection (not shown) of guidewire 100 represents the other end section ofguidewire 100 which is usually inserted into a body. Guidewire 100 isconstructed of a walled tube which is hollow. In one embodiment of thedisclosed technique, the walled tube is a thick walled tube. In general,throughout the description, the term hollow walled tube is used todesignate a hollow walled tube of a predetermined thickness and includeshollow walled tubes which are thick and thin. The hollow 105 ofguidewire 100 can be referred to as a cavity or a lumen. As shown inFIG. 1B, the walled tube includes an inner diameter and an outerdiameter (not shown in FIG. 1A). Regular section 101 represents thesize, and in particular the diameter, of the walled tube of theguidewire over a majority of the length of the guidewire. Transitionsection 104 represents a section of proximal section 102 wherein theouter diameter of the walled tube is gradually reduced in size to apredetermined reduced size. Reduced diameter section 106 represents theend section of proximal section 102 wherein the outer diameter of thewalled tube is maintained constant at the predetermined reduced size.Transition section 104 and reduced diameter section 106 can be formed bynumerous techniques known in the art such as drawing both sections overa mandrel, machining the sections, grinding the sections, using acenterless grinding process, using a cold working process and the like.

In another embodiment of the disclosed technique, transition section 104and reduced diameter section 106 are replaced by a second walled tube(not shown). This second walled tube would have an outer diametersubstantially similar to the inner diameter of regular section 101, andwould have a length substantially similar to the combined length oftransition section 104 and reduced diameter section 106. In thisembodiment, the second walled tube is inserted into regular section 101and is either welded or bonded to regular section 101. In thisembodiment, the diameters of the walled tube and the second walled tubecould be on the order of hundreds of micrometers (i.e., tenths of amillimeter). For example, the outer diameter of regular section 101could be 0.35 millimeters, with an inner diameter of 0.18 millimeters.The outer diameter of the second walled tube could be 0.18 millimeters,with an inner diameter of 0.09 millimeters.

In reduced diameter section 106, an aperture 108 is formed, exposinglumen 105 of guidewire 100. In the embodiment just described whichincludes a second walled tube, aperture 108 would be formed on thesecond walled tube. Aperture 108 can be formed by using techniques knownin the art such as machining, micro-machining, cutting, laser cutting,electrical discharge machining (EDM), chemical etching and the like.Aperture 108 is formed to be large enough to thread electrical elements,such as electrical wires (not shown), in guidewire 100 there through. Asmentioned above, FIG. 1A represents a perspective exploded illustrationwherein the various elements of guidewire 100 are separated but kept inthe general order in which they are physically assembled. The separatedelements are positioned along a respective centerline, shown in FIG. 1Aas a dotted line 116. The assembled elements are shown in detail inFIGS. 1B and 1C. Over transition section 104 and reduced diametersection 106, a cover section 110 is positioned. Cover section 110, likeguidewire 100, can be constructed from a walled tube, which would havean inner diameter and an outer diameter (both not shown). Cover section110 can also be a shrinkable polymer tube, a coating, a polymericceramic or a non-conducting ceramic. Cover section 110 is generally madeof an electrically insulating material such as polyester (a polymericheat shrink), Teflon® (a polymeric coating) or alumina (a coating).Cover section 110 may be a polymer coating, a non-conducting ceramic, aheat shrink tube, a shrinkable polymer tube and the like. The length ofcover section 110 is substantially similar to the combined lengths oftransition section 104 and reduced diameter section 106. The innerdiameter of cover section 110 is substantially the same size of theouter diameter of reduced diameter section 106. The outer diameter ofcover section 110 is smaller than the outer diameter of regular section101. Cover section 110 includes an aperture 112. Aperture 112 issubstantially similar in size to aperture 108. If cover section 110 is acoating, then aperture 112 is substantially a slit, similar in length toaperture 108. Aperture 112 is positioned on cover section 110 such thatwhen cover section 110 is placed around transition section 104 andreduced diameter section 106, aperture 112 and aperture 108 are aligned.

Once cover section 110 has been positioned around transition section 104and reduced diameter section 106, rings 114A and 114B are positionedover cover section 110. In general, rings 114A and 114B are tubes whichhave an inner diameter and an outer diameter (not shown). The outerdiameter of the rings is substantially similar to the outer diameter ofregular section 101. The inner diameter of the rings is substantiallysimilar to the outer diameter of cover section 110. In one embodiment,rings 114A and 114B can be made from an electrically conductivematerial. In another embodiment, rings 114A and 114B are coated, orplated, with an electrically conductive material. In general, thematerial from which rings 114A and 114B is either made from, coated orplated, is biocompatible. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1A, two ringsare positioned over cover section 110. In another embodiment, aplurality of rings is positioned over cover section 110. In general, theamount of rings included in guidewire 100 is determined by the number ofelectrical signal paths required for the electrical elements insideguidewire 100. For example, if guidewire 100 includes a magneticposition sensor (not shown) and a temperature sensor (not shown), thenguidewire 100 requires four electrical signal paths (i.e. fourelectrical wires), two for the magnetic position sensor and two for thetemperature sensor. For each electrical wire placed in lumen 105, arespective ring is positioned over cover section 110. In one embodiment,rings 114A and 114B are completely closed (not shown). In anotherembodiment, as shown in FIG. 1A, rings 114A and 114B are open, havingopenings 115A and 115B. Rings 114A and 114B can be positioned over coversection 110 by sliding the rings over the cover section. Rings 114A and114B can also be crimped over cover section 110. Rings 114A and 114B areplaced over cover section 110 such that they do not cover aperture 112and such that they do not make contact with each other.

As described below in FIGS. 1B and 1C, rings 114A and 114B areconducting surfaces to which electrical elements in guidewire 100, suchas electrical wires, are coupled to. Rings 114A and 114B can then becoupled with conducting surfaces on an external system (not shown), inparticular to a female coupler (not shown) coupled with the externalsystem. In this respect, rings 114A and 114B, cover section 110,transition section 104 and reduced diameter section 106 represent anembodiment of the male coupler of the disclosed technique. The malecoupler shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B and 1C is an integrated part of guidewire100 as the conducting surfaces, rings 114A and 114B, are positioned overthe proximal section of guidewire 100. As shown in the embodiments inFIGS. 2-5, the male coupler in these embodiments is not an integratedpart of the guidewire but is rather an element upon which conductingsurfaces are formed and which is then coupled with the proximal sectionof the guidewire.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1B, which is a cross-section illustrationof the guidewire of FIG. 1A along a plane parallel to the length of theguidewire, generally referenced 130, constructed and operative inaccordance with another embodiment of the disclosed technique. Guidewire130 includes an integrated male coupler, as described below. In FIG. 1B,the separated parts of FIG. 1A, such as cover section 110 (FIG. 1A) andrings 114A and 114B (both in FIG. 1A) have been positioned in theirrespective order over guidewire 130. As mentioned above, guidewire 130is constructed from a walled hollow tube. Guidewire 130 includes awalled section 132, a lumen 138, a pair of electrical wires 140, a coversection 134 and rings 136A and 136B. Pair of electrical wires 140includes a first wire 142A and a second wire 142B. Walled section 132 issubstantially similar to regular section 101 (FIG. 1A), cover section134 is substantially similar to cover section 110 (FIG. 1A) and rings136A and 136B are substantially similar to rings 114A and 114B (both inFIG. 1A). The section of guidewire 130 which is shown in FIG. 1Brepresents the proximal section of the guidewire. Over a majority of thelength of guidewire 130, walled section 132 has a thickness shown by anarrow 152. As mentioned in FIG. 1A, at the end of the proximal sectionof guidewire 130, shown in FIG. 1B as a male coupler section 150, thethickness of walled section 132 is reduced in size. As shown in FIG. 1B,the thickness of walled section 132, as shown by arrow 152, is reducedto a predetermined thickness, as shown by an arrow 154. The thicknessrepresented by arrow 152 is reduced gradually to the thicknessrepresented by arrow 154. It is noted that in reducing the thickness ofwalled section 132, the thickness of lumen 138 is not altered andremains constant along the entire length of guidewire 130. In anotherembodiment, the thickness of walled section 132 is reduced in size bydrawing walled section 132 through a die. In this embodiment, both theouter diameter of guidewire 130, as denoted by an arrow 156, and theinner diameter of guidewire 130, as denoted by an arrow 158 are reducedin size. As such, the thickness of lumen 138 is also altered and is notconstant along the entire length of guidewire 130.

Guidewire 130 also includes an aperture, delineated by a bracket 148. Anaperture 137A opened up in walled section 132 and an aperture 137Bopened up in cover section 134 are substantially similar in size and arealigned. The aperture delineated by bracket 148 is large enough suchthat first wire 142A and second wire 142B can be threaded there through.First wire 142A is coupled with ring 136A and second wire 142B iscoupled with ring 136B. In general, each wire in lumen 138 is coupled inmale coupler section 150 to a respective ring. As mentioned in FIG. 1A,guidewire 130 is not limited to including only two wires but can includea plurality of wires. Therefore, for each wire in lumen 138, arespective ring is positioned around cover section 134. As can be seenin FIG. 1B, rings 136A and 136B are positioned such that they do notcover the aperture delineated by bracket 148 and such that they do notmake contact with each other. First wire 142A and second wire 142B arecoupled respectively to rings 136A and 136B by dabs of conducting glue144A and 144B. The first and second wires can be coupled with the ringsby welding, soldering, brazing or bonding with a conductive bondingagent or glue. In one embodiment, the wires are first positioned oncover section 134 and then rings 136A and 136B are crimped over thewires, thereby forming a strong conductive path between the wires andthe rings. In another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1B, and more clearlyin FIG. 1C, the rings are first positioned and then the wires arecoupled to the rings as mentioned using, for example, a conducting glue.It is noted that walled section 132 can serve as a ground contact forelectrical elements in lumen 138, such as pair of electrical wires 140.Once the wires have been coupled to the rings, the spaces between rings136A and 136B as well as the aperture delineated by bracket 148 arefilled with an insulating polymer 146. The end part of lumen 138 mayalso be filled with insulating polymer 146 to seal the lumen and torigidly fix first wire 142A and second wire 142B. Insulating polymer 146can also be an insulating bond or an insulating glue. Insulating polymer146 is finally cured and smoothed, thus forming male coupler section 150with a diameter substantially similar to the diameter of the rest ofguidewire 130.

In general, rings 136A and 136 are open, as shown in FIG. 1A as rings114A and 114B, to enable first wire 142A and second wire 142B to becoupled to the rings whereby a large conducting surface is provided forthe coupling. Also, if rings 136A and 136B are open, then inducedcurrents due to magnetic fields in pair of electrical wires 140 may bereduced. This is significant in an embodiment where guidewire 130includes an electrical element which has a magnetic nature, such as amagnetic positioning sensor, since reduced induced currents is relatedto a reduction in noise in a signal received by an external system (notshown) coupled with rings 136A and 136B. As shown in FIG. 1B, a dottedline 169 shows a section of guidewire 130 which is shown incross-section, in a plane perpendicular to the length of guidewire 130,in FIG. 1C.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1C, which is a cross-section illustrationof the guidewire of FIG. 1B along a plane perpendicular to the length ofthe guidewire, generally referenced 170, constructed and operative inaccordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique.Guidewire 170 is shown in cross-section in a male coupler section.Guidewire 170 includes a walled tube 176, a cover section 174, a ring172 and a lumen 178. Guidewire 170 also includes an aperture 184. As canbe seen, aperture 184 is aligned over the openings in walled tube 176,cover section 174 and ring 172. In this section of guidewire 170, ring172 forms the outer layer, with cover section 174 being placed withinring 172 and walled tube 176 being placed within cover section 174.Lumen 178 and aperture 184 are filled with an insulating bond 179, whichis cured and smoothed. In FIG. 1C, a wire 180 is coupled with ring 172by a dab of conducting glue 182. In this embodiment, ring 172 is notcrimped on top of wire 180, rather wire 180 is coupled with a face ofring 172 using dab of conducting glue 182.

Reference is now made to FIG. 2, which is an orthographic illustrationof a guidewire insert, generally referenced 190, constructed andoperative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosedtechnique. As shown below in FIGS. 3A-3C, guidewire insert 190 iscoupled with a guidewire (not shown) and in particular, is coupled withelectrical elements in the guidewire, such as electrical wires. In FIG.2, guidewire insert 190 is shown in three different orthographicprojections. A guidewire insert 200 shows guidewire insert 190 from aside view, conventionally described as being at 0 degrees of rotation. Aguidewire insert 200′ shows guidewire insert 190 from a side view, at 90degrees of rotation in a positive direction, which is the same asviewing guidewire insert 200 from a top view. A guidewire insert 200″shows guidewire insert 190 from a side view, at 90 degrees of rotationin a negative direction, which is the same as viewing guidewire insert200 from a bottom view.

Guidewire insert 200 is constructed from a molded polymer. Guidewireinsert 200 has a general cylindrical shape, shown in more detail inFIGS. 3A-3C, having a larger diameter section 202 and a smaller diametersection 204. Larger diameter section 202 has a diameter shown as anarrow 210, and smaller diameter section 204 has a diameter shown as anarrow 212. In guidewire 200, smaller diameter section 204 slightlytapers in the direction of an arrow 213, whereas in guidewire inserts200′ and 200″, the smaller diameter section does not taper. Diameter 210is substantially similar to the outer diameter of a guidewire (notshown) to which guidewire insert 200 is coupled with. Diameter 212 issubstantially similar to the inner diameter of a guidewire (not shown)to which guidewire insert 200 is coupled with. In general, largerdiameter section 202 and smaller diameter section 204 may have lengthswhich are on the order of tens of millimeters. For example, both largerdiameter section 202 and smaller diameter section 204 may measure 10millimeters.

In this embodiment, guidewire insert 200 is molded from a speciallyformulated resin, which when exposed to a specific type of laser energybecomes active. In the molded state, the resin is not platable, whereasin an activated state, the resin is platable. In general, plating refersto a surface-covering technique wherein a substance is deposited onto asurface. In guidewire insert 200, the resin which the guidewire insertis formed from is generally insulating in nature. Once the general shapeof guidewire insert 200 has been formed, certain parts of the surface ofthe guidewire insert are activated by exposing those parts to aparticular type of laser energy. Afterwards, the entire surface ofguidewire insert 200 is plated with a conducting metal, such as withcopper, nickel or gold. In one embodiment of the disclosed technique,the entire surface of guidewire insert 200 is first plated with a layerof copper, then with a layer of nickel and finally with a layer of gold.In general, the resin and the conducting metal surface arebiocompatible. Due to the nature of the resin, only those parts of thesurface of guidewire insert 200 which were activated are plated with theconducting metal, thereby forming a conducting layer on certain parts ofthe surface of guidewire insert 200. In general, this technique isreferred to in the art as laser direct structuring (LDS).

As shown in guidewire insert 200, two partial rings 206A and 206B areactivated and plated as well as two paths 208A and 208B. In other words,the surfaces delineated in guidewire insert 200 as partial rings 206Aand 206B and paths 208A and 208B are conducting surfaces, whereas allother parts of the surface of guidewire insert 200 are insulatingsurfaces. Regarding their measurements, for example, each partial ringcould measure between 3-5 millimeters along the axis of guidewire 200(in the direction of arrow 213) with a spacing of between 1-3millimeters between the two rings. Path 208A is coupled with partialring 206A (not shown) and path 208B is coupled with partial ring 206B(not shown). Path 208A and partial ring 206A do not make contact withpath 208B and partial ring 206B. It is noted that in another embodimentof the disclosed technique, partial ring 206A can be a full ring (notshown). In other words, in this embodiment a full ring conductingsurface is formed in the position of partial ring 206A. In general,partial rings are formed so as to reduce induced electrical currents,which, as explained above, reduces noise in signals which aretransferred when electrical elements used in the guidewire (not shown)which guidewire insert 190 is coupled with are magnetic in nature. Ascan be seen in guidewire insert 200′, a partial ring 206A′ is coupledwith a path 208A′ where both partial ring 206A′ and path 208A′ areconducting surfaces. In guidewire insert 200″, a partial ring 206B″ iscoupled with a path 208B″ where both partial ring 206B″ and path 208B″are conducting surfaces.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3A, which is a perspective explodedillustration of the guidewire insert of FIG. 2 coupled with a guidewire,generally referenced 220, constructed and operative in accordance with afurther embodiment of the disclosed technique. As can be seen in FIG.3A, a guidewire 221 is coupled with a guidewire insert 232. Guidewire221 includes a hollow walled tube 222 and a lumen (not shown). Insidethe lumen, a pair of electrical wires 226 is positioned. Pair ofelectrical wires 226 includes a first wire 228A and a second wire 228B.The section of guidewire 221 shown is the proximal end of the guidewire.Guidewire 221 also includes, at its proximal end, a first slot 224 and asecond slot (not shown in FIG. 3A, shown as a slot 264 in FIG. 3B), bothslots being positioned on opposite sides of the proximal end ofguidewire 221.

Guidewire insert 232 has a general cylindrical form and includes twosections, a larger diameter section 236 and a smaller diameter section234. In general, larger diameter section 236 has a diameter which issubstantially similar to the diameter of guidewire 221. For example, ifguidewire 221 is a guidewire used in a cardiovascular procedure, thenthe diameter of larger diameter section 236 could be 0.355 millimeters.Smaller diameter section 234 has, in general, a diameter which issubstantially similar to the diameter of lumen (not shown) of guidewire221. In the example above, the diameter of section 234 could be between0.18 to 0.25 millimeters. As described in FIG. 2, guidewire insert 232has two conducting rings 240A and 240B. Each conducting ring is coupledwith a conducting path. Conducting ring 240A is coupled with conductingpath 242. Conducting ring 240B is coupled with a conducting path (notshown in FIG. 3A, shown in FIG. 3B as conducting path 282). As shown inFIG. 3A, smaller diameter section 234 includes a flat surface 238 uponwhich conducting path 242 is located. A second flat surface, similar toflat surface 238, is, included in smaller diameter section 234, on anopposite side to flat surface 238 (not shown in FIG. 3A, shown in FIG.3B as flat surface 278). Conducting rings 240A and 240B aresubstantially similar to, respectively, rings 206A and 206B (both inFIG. 2), and conducting path 242 is substantially similar to both path208A and path 208A′ (both in FIG. 2). First wire 228A is coupled withconducting path 242 at a point 244A. Second wire 228B is coupled with aconducting path (not shown) at a point 244B. The wires can be coupledwith the conducting paths by welding, soldering, brazing or bonding witha conductive glue or a conductive bond. As first wire 228A is coupledwith conducting path 242, which is coupled with conducting ring 240A,first wire 228A is coupled with conducting ring 240A. As shown in FIG.3B, second wire 228B is coupled with conducting partial ring 240B.

In general, the diameter of smaller diameter section 234 issubstantially similar to the inner diameter of hollow walled tube 222such that smaller diameter section 234 can be inserted into the lumen ofhollow walled tube 222. The diameter of larger diameter section 236 issubstantially similar to the outer diameter of hollow walled tube 222such that when guidewire insert 232 is inserted into guidewire 221, asurface of substantially similar diameter is formed between hollowwalled tube 222 and larger diameter section 236. In general, the ratioof lengths between smaller diameter section 234 and larger diametersection 236 is such that a strong coupling is achieved when guidewireinsert 232 is inserted into the lumen of guidewire 221. In other words,the length of section 236 is substantially on the same order as thelength of section 234. In addition, the coupling of guidewire insert 232to guidewire 221 can be strengthened by techniques such as pressfitting, crimping hollow walled tube 222 over guidewire insert 232,bonding or gluing smaller diameter section 234 to the inner walls ofhollow walled tube 222, molding crush ribs onto the surface of smallerdiameter section 234 and the like. When guidewire insert 232 is coupledwith guidewire 221, guidewire insert 232 is positioned such that flatsurface 238, where first wire 228A is coupled to guidewire insert 232,is aligned with first slot 224 and that the other flat surface (notshown), where second wire 228B is coupled to guidewire insert 232, isaligned with the second slot. This is shown by the general positions ofguidewire 221 and guidewire insert 232 relative to a dotted centerline230. Guidewire insert 232 is finally bonded or glued to guidewire 221,and first slot 224 and the second slot are filled using an insulatingpolymer or an insulating bond, either of which are biocompatible. Theinsulating polymer or bond is then cured and smoothed, thus forming abiocompatible surface with a diameter substantially similar to thediameter of the proximal section of guidewire 221. It is noted thatguidewire insert 232 substantially forms a male coupler section whichcan be coupled with a female coupler section (not shown) coupled with anexternal system (not shown).

Reference is now made to FIG. 3B, which is another perspective explodedillustration of the guidewire insert of FIG. 2 coupled with a guidewire,generally referenced 260, constructed and operative in accordance withanother embodiment of the disclosed technique. Whereas FIG. 3A showed aguidewire insert and a guidewire from a top perspective view, FIG. 3Bshows a guidewire insert and a guidewire from a bottom perspective view.Guidewire 261 includes a hollow walled tube 262 and a lumen (not shown).Inside the lumen, a pair of electrical wires 266 is positioned. Pair ofelectrical wires 266 includes a first wire 268A and a second wire 268B.The section of guidewire 261 shown is the proximal end of the guidewire.Guidewire 261 also includes, at its proximal end, a second slot 264 anda first slot (not shown in FIG. 3B, shown as a slot 224 in FIG. 3A),both slots being positioned on opposite sides of the proximal end ofguidewire 261.

Guidewire insert 272 has a general cylindrical form and includes twosections, a larger diameter section 276 and a smaller diameter section274. As described in FIG. 2, guidewire insert 272 has two conductingpartial rings 280A and 280B. Each conducting partial ring is coupledwith a conducting path. Conducting ring 280B is coupled with conductingpath 282. Conducting ring 240A is coupled with a conducting path (notshown in FIG. 3B, shown in FIG. 3A as conducting path 242). As shown inFIG. 3B, smaller diameter section 274 includes a flat surface 278 uponwhich conducting path 282 is located. A second flat surface, similar toflat surface 278, is included in smaller diameter section 274, on anopposite side to flat surface 278 (not shown in FIG. 3B, shown in FIG.3A as flat surface 238). Conducting rings 280A and 280B aresubstantially similar to, respectively, rings 206A and 206B (both inFIG. 2), and conducting path 282 is substantially similar to both path208B and path 208B″ (both in FIG. 2). First wire 268A is coupled withconducting path 282 at a point 284A. Second wire 268B is coupled with aconducting path (not shown) at a point 284B. As first wire 268A iscoupled with conducting path 282, which is coupled with conductingpartial ring 280B, first wire 268A is coupled with conducting partialring 280B. As shown in FIG. 3A, second wire 268B is coupled withconducting partial ring 280A.

As mentioned above, in general, the diameter of smaller diameter section274 is substantially similar to the inner diameter of hollow walled tube262 such that smaller diameter section 274 can be inserted into thelumen of hollow walled tube 262. The diameter of larger diameter section276 is substantially similar to the outer diameter of hollow walled tube262 such that when guidewire insert 272 is inserted into guidewire 261,a surface of substantially similar diameter is formed between hollowwalled tube 262 and larger diameter section 276. When guidewire insert272 is coupled with guidewire 261, guidewire insert 272 is positionedsuch that flat surface 278, where first wire 268A is coupled toguidewire insert 272, is aligned with second slot 264 and that the otherflat surface (not shown), where second wire 268B is coupled to guidewireinsert 272, is aligned with the first slot. This is shown the generalpositions of guidewire 261 and guidewire insert 272 relative to a dottedcenterline 270.

Reference is now made to FIG. 3C, which is a cross-section illustrationof the guidewire insert illustrated in FIGS. 3A and 3B, coupled with aguidewire, generally referenced 300, constructed and operative inaccordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique.Guidewire 300, which represents the proximal end of the guidewire,includes a hollow walled tube 302, a pair of electrical wires 308, twoslots 304A and 304B, a lumen (not shown) and a guidewire insert 314.Slots 304A and 304B run the length of the proximal end of guidewire 300.Pair of electrical wires 308 includes a first wire 310A and a secondwire 310B. Guidewire insert 314 includes conducting partial rings 320Aand 320B and conducting paths 322A and 322B, with each conducting pathbeing respectively coupled with a single conducting partial ring.Conducting rings 320A and 320B are substantially similar to,respectively, rings 206A and 206B (both in FIG. 2), and conducting paths322A and 322B are substantially similar to, respectively, paths 208A and208B (both in FIG. 2). Guidewire insert 314 is formed as described abovein FIG. 2, and includes a larger diameter section 316 and a smallerdiameter section 318. First wire 310A is coupled with conducting path322A at a point 324A, and second wire 310B is coupled with conductingpath 322B at a point 324B. It is noted that hollow walled tube 302 canserve as a ground contact for electrical elements in the lumen, such aspair of electrical wires 308. Guidewire insert 314 is inserted into thelumen of hollow walled tube 302 and glued or bonded to the inner wallsof hollow walled tube 302 as shown in section 312A and 312B. Slots 304Aand 304B are filled with an insulating polymer or an insulating bond insections 306A and 306B. The insulating polymer or bond is cured andsmoothed. As can be seen in FIG. 3C, hollow walled tube 302, insulatingpolymer sections 306A and 306B and larger diameter section 316 togetherform a smooth surface of substantially the same diameter.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4A, which is a cross-section illustrationof another guidewire insert, generally referenced 340, constructed andoperative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosedtechnique. As described above in FIGS. 2-3C, guidewire insert 340represents a male coupler section which is coupled with a guidewire (notshown) and can then subsequently be coupled with a female couplersection (not shown) which is coupled with an external system (notshown). Guidewire insert 340 is constructed from a molded polymer and isformed around a central wire 350. Central wire 350 is formed from aconducting metal such as steel, copper, silver, gold, nickel or aluminumand can have a diameter on the order of hundreds of microns, such as 100microns. The molded polymer is formed around central wire 350. Guidewireinsert 340 has a general cylindrical shape, having, a larger diametersection 346 and a smaller diameter section 342. Smaller diameter section342 may be longer in length than shown in FIG. 4A, as demarcated by aspace 344.

In this embodiment, guidewire insert 340 is molded from two differentpolymer resins by a multiple shot process. One polymer resin is platableby a metal plating technique, while the other is not. In general, bothresins are insulating materials. As shown in FIG. 4A, two sections ofguidewire insert 340, conducting rings 352A and 352B, are formed fromthe polymer resin which is platable by a metal plating process and twosections of guidewire insert 340, insulating rings 354A and 354B, areformed from the other polymer resin which is not platable by a metalplating process. Regarding their measurements, conducting rings 352A and352B can measure, for example, 3-5 millimeters in length, withinsulating rings 354A and 354B measuring, for example, 2-3 millimetersin length. Once guidewire insert 340 is molded from the two differentresins in the pattern shown in FIG. 4A, an electroplating process isexecuted on guidewire insert 340. The sections of guidewire insert 340which were formed from the polymer resin which is platable by a metalplating process are plated whereas the sections formed from the otherresin are not. In this respect, conducting rings 352A and 352B areformed and insulating rings 354A and 354B are formed. The metal used inthe electroplating process can be, for example, gold, copper, nickel andlike. In one embodiment of the disclosed technique, guidewire insert 340is first plated with a layer of copper, then with a layer of nickel andfinally with a layer of gold. In general, the resins and the metal usedin the electroplating process are biocompatible. It is noted thatconducting rings 352A and 352B are conducting surfaces due to theirplating, meaning that just the outer surface of conducting rings 352Aand 352B can conduct electrical signals. In this respect, even thoughcentral wire 350 is physically coupled with conducting rings 352A and352B, central wire 350 is not electrically coupled to the conductingrings. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A, conducting ring 352A iselectrically coupled with central wire 350 by weld beads 368A and 368Bwhich couple the outer plated section of conducting ring 352A to centralwire 350. In another embodiment, the outer plated section of conductingring 352A is coupled to central wire 350 by either a braze bead, acircumferential solder or by a conductive glue.

In guidewire insert 340, in a section 348, insulating ring 354B may begrinded or cut such that its thickness is slightly reduced and a flatsurface is formed on one side of insulating ring 354B. In anotherembodiment, the flat surface formed on one side of insulating ring 354Bcan be part of the initial mold used to mold guidewire insert 340. Aguidewire insert 362 represents a cross-sectional view of insulatingring 354B, as shown by a dotted line 361. Guidewire insert 362 includesa central wire 366, an insulating ring 364 and a flat surface 365. Aguidewire insert 356 represents a cross-sectional view of conductingring 352A, as shown by a dotted line 355. Guidewire insert 356 includesa central wire 360 and a conducting ring 358. As can be seen, guidewireinsert 356 has a general cylindrical shape, whereas guidewire insert 362also has a general cylindrical shape except that on one side, thethickness of the insulating ring has been reduced to form flat surface365. It is noted that the reduction in thickness of the insulating ringas shown in FIG. 4A represents one embodiment of guidewire insert 340.In another embodiment, insulating ring 354B has the same thickness asinsulating ring 354A.

Reference is now made to FIG. 4B, which is a cross-section illustrationof the guidewire insert of FIG. 4A, coupled with a guidewire, generallyreferenced 380, constructed and operative in accordance with a furtherembodiment of the disclosed technique. A guidewire 382, which representsthe proximal end of guidewire 380, includes a hollow walled tube 384, apair of electrical wires 388, a slot in hollow walled tube 384 shown asa bracket 385, a lumen 386 and a guidewire insert 392. Guidewire 382 canbe a hypotube. The slot, as shown by bracket 385, runs the length of theproximal end of guidewire 382. It is noted that unlike the embodiment ofthe disclosed technique shown in FIGS. 2-3C which includes two slots,guidewire 380 includes only one slot which is located on only one sideof hollow walled tube 384. Pair of electrical wires 388 includes a firstwire 390A and a second wire 390B. Guidewire insert 314 includesconducting rings 396A and 396B, insulating rings 394A and 394B andcentral wire 398. Conducting rings 396A and 396B are substantiallysimilar to, respectively, conducting rings 352A and 352B (both in FIG.4A), and insulating rings 394A and 394B are substantially similar to,respectively, insulating rings 354A and 354B (both in FIG. 4A).Guidewire insert 392 is formed as described above in FIG. 4A, andincludes a larger diameter section (not shown) and a smaller diametersection (not shown). Central wire 398 is electrically coupled withconducting ring 396A by weld beads 399A and 399B.

First wire 390A is coupled with central wire 398 at a point 400A, andsecond wire 390B is coupled with conducting ring 396B at a point 400B.Since conducting ring 396A is coupled with central wire 398 via weldbeads 399A and 399B, first wire 390A is coupled with conducting ring396A. Point 400B is on a surface of conducting ring 396B which isexposed because of the reduced thickness of insulating ring 394B. Bothwires are coupled by either being welded, soldered, brazed or bondedusing a conductive bonding agent. The reduced thickness in insulatingring 394B enables second wire 390B to be coupled directly to conductingring 396B without protruding beyond the diameter of guidewire 382. It isnoted that hollow walled tube 384 can serve as a ground contact forelectrical elements in lumen 386, such as pair of electrical wires 388.In general, the diameter of guidewire 382, shown by an arrow 389, issubstantially similar to the diameter of the larger diameter section(not shown) of guidewire insert 392, as shown by an arrow 401. Thediameter of lumen 386, as shown by an arrow 387, is substantiallysimilar to the diameter of the smaller diameter section (not shown) ofguidewire insert 392, as shown by an arrow 399. In general, the ratio oflengths between the smaller diameter section (not shown) and largerdiameter section (not shown) of guidewire insert 392 is such that astrong coupling is achieved when guidewire insert 392 is inserted intolumen 386 of guidewire 382. In addition, the coupling of guidewireinsert 392 to guidewire 382 can be strengthened by techniques such aspress fitting, crimping hollow walled tube 384 over guidewire insert392, bonding or gluing the smaller diameter section to the inner wallsof hollow walled tube 384, molding crush ribs onto the surface of thesmaller diameter section and the like. When guidewire insert 392 iscoupled with guidewire 382, guidewire insert 392 is positioned such thatthe flat surface of insulating ring 394B, above which second wire 390Bis positioned, is aligned with slot 385. Guidewire insert 392 isinserted into lumen 386 of hollow walled tube 384 and glued or bonded tothe inner walls of hollow walled tube 384. Slot 385 is filled with aninsulating polymer or an insulating bond. The insulating polymer or bondis cured and smoothed. As can be seen in FIG. 4B, guidewire 382,insulating polymer 402 and guidewire insert 392 together form a smoothsurface of substantially the same diameter. In general, central wire 350reinforces the connection between guidewire insert 392 and hollow walledtube 384 of the guidewire. Also, central wire 350, as described above,forms a conducting path for one of the wires in pair of electrical wires388.

Reference is now made to FIG. 5, which is a cross-section illustrationof a further guidewire insert, coupled with a guidewire, generallyreferenced 420, constructed and operative in accordance with anotherembodiment of the disclosed technique. As described above in FIGS. 2-4B,guidewire insert 434 represents a male coupler section which is coupledwith a guidewire 422 and can then subsequently be coupled with a femalecoupler section (not shown) which is coupled with an external system(not shown). Guidewire 422, which represents the proximal end ofguidewire 420, includes a hollow walled tube 424, a pair of electricalwires 428, a slot in hollow walled tube 424 shown as a bracket 432, alumen 426 and a guidewire insert 434. Guidewire 422 can be a hypotube.The slot, as shown by bracket 432, runs the length of the proximal endof guidewire 420. It is noted that unlike the embodiment of thedisclosed technique shown in FIGS. 2-3C which includes two slots,guidewire 420 includes only one slot which is located on only one sideof hollow walled tube 424. Pair of electrical wires 428 includes a firstwire 430A and a second wire 430B. Guidewire insert 434 includes a firstconducting layer 442, a first insulating layer 440, a second conductinglayer 438 and a second insulating layer 436.

In one embodiment, guidewire insert 434 is formed from a molded polymeror from a micromolded plastic. First conducting layer 442 is formed bycoating or plating guidewire insert 434 with a conductive material, suchas gold, copper, nickel and the like. As mentioned above, in oneembodiment, a layer of copper, is first plated, followed by a layer ofnickel and finally a layer of gold. First conducting layer 442 ispartially covered, as shown in FIG. 5, by first insulating layer 440.Second conducting layer 438 is formed by partially coating or platingfirst insulating layer 440 with a conductive material as shown in FIG.5. Second conducting layer 438 is partially covered by second insulatinglayer 436, as shown in FIG. 5. First and second insulating layers 440and 436 can be thin walled heat shrink tubing such as thin walledpolyester (PET) heat shrink tubing, sprayed polymers, dipped polymers,ceramic coatings such as alumina and the like. In another embodiment,guidewire insert 434 is formed from a conductive metal by a process ofeither micro-machining, grinding or drawing. In this embodiment, firstconducting layer 442, which in the first embodiment was plated or coatedonto the molded polymer forming the guidewire insert, is the conductivemetal itself, upon which a first insulating layer is positioned. Thisembodiment is cost effective as the cost of plating first conductinglayer 442 is saved. Also, this embodiment enables a stiffer and morerobust guidewire insert to be formed as the guidewire insert is formedfrom a metal and not from a polymer or plastic.

First wire 430A is coupled with first conducting layer 442 at a point446A, and second wire 430B is coupled with second conducting layer 438at a point 446B. It is noted that hollow walled tube 424 can serve as aground contact for electrical elements in lumen 426, such as pair ofelectrical wires 428. It is also noted that both of points 446A and446B, where first wire 430A and second wire 430B are respectivelycoupled with guidewire insert 434, are located on the side of guidewire422 where the slot, as shown by bracket 432, is located. This enablesone side of guidewire insert 434 to be coupled directly with one side ofguidewire 422 by a bond or a glue, as described below. In general, thediameter of guidewire 422, shown by an arrow 452, is substantiallysimilar to the diameter of the larger diameter section (not shown) ofguidewire insert 434, as shown by an arrow 450. The diameter of lumen426, as shown by an arrow 454, is substantially similar to the diameterof the smaller diameter section (not shown) of guidewire insert 434, asshown by an arrow 448. In general, the ratio of lengths between thesmaller diameter section (not shown) and larger diameter section (notshown) of guidewire insert 434 is such that a strong coupling isachieved when guidewire insert 434 is inserted into lumen 426 ofguidewire 422. In addition, the coupling of guidewire insert 434 toguidewire 422 can be strengthened by techniques such as press fitting,crimping hollow walled tube 424 over guidewire insert 434, bonding orgluing the smaller diameter section to the inner walls of hollow walledtube 424, molding crush ribs onto the surface of the smaller diametersection and the like. Guidewire insert 434 is inserted into lumen 426 ofhollow walled tube 424 and glued or bonded to the inner walls of hollowwalled tube 424 using a non-conductive polymer bond 444. Slot 432 isfilled with non-conductive polymer bond 444, which can also be aninsulating polymer or an insulating bond. The insulating polymer or bondis cured and smoothed. As can be seen in FIG. 5, guidewire 422,insulating polymer 444 and guidewire insert 434 together form a smoothsurface of substantially the same diameter.

The male coupler described above in FIGS. 1B, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B and 5is coupled with, or is integrated with, as in the case of FIG. 1B, aguidewire. It is noted that the male coupler described in the abovementioned figures can also be coupled with, or integrated with, otherinvasive apparatuses such as stylets having electrical leads and varioustypes of catheters, such as catheters bearing balloons and stents attheir distal ends. In integrating, or coupling, the male coupler of thedisclosed technique with the other invasive apparatuses mentioned above,the electrical elements of such apparatuses, such as electrical leads,would be coupled with the male coupler as described above regardingelectrical wires, such as first wire 228A and second wire 228B (both inFIG. 3A).

The guidewire of the disclosed technique, as mentioned above, coupleswith an external system, which is usually positioned in a treatmentarea. In this case, a user of the disclosed technique, such as aphysician, inserts the male coupler, which, as mentioned above, iscoupled with the guidewire, to a female coupler. The female couplercouples the male coupler, and thus the guidewire, with the externalsystem. The female coupler, according to the disclosed technique, isdivided into two parts which are a disposable part and a fixed part,with the disposable part inserted into the fixed part. The disposablepart and the fixed part are mechanically and electrically coupled therebetween, as explained below. In general, the fixed part is coupled withthe external system in the treatment area and the disposable part iscoupled with the male coupler of the guidewire.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 6A and 6B, which are schematicperspective illustrations of the guidewire male coupler, generallyreferenced 455, constructed and operative in accordance with a furtherembodiment of the disclosed technique. FIG. 6A illustrates a perspectiveexploded illustration of male coupler 455. Male coupler 455 includesthree tubular segments, segment 456, segment 457 and segment 458.Tubular segment 456 includes two reduced diameter sections delineated bya bracket 461 and by a bracket 463 and a regular section delineated by abracket 462 there between. Tubular segment 457 includes a slit 459.Tubular segment 458 includes slit 460, a reduced diameter sectiondelineated by a bracket 464 and a regular section delineated by abracket 465. In FIG. 6A segments 456, 457 and 458 of guidewire insertare illustrated separately.

The outer diameter of reduced diameter section 461 is slightly less thenthe inner diameter of a guidewire (not shown). The outer diameters ofregular sections 462 and 465 are substantially similar to the outerdiameter the guidewire. The outer diameter of reduced diameters sections463 and 464 are slightly less then the inner diameter of tubular segment457. The outer diameter of tubular segment 457 is substantially similarto the outer diameter of the guidewire.

Tubular segments 456, 457 and 458 are made of a conducting metal (e.g.,Nirosta stainless steel, Nitinol). Tubular segment 456 is partially offully coated with an electrical insulating material (e.g., insulatingglue, insulating polymer, Alumina) such that tubular segment 456 doesnot form an electrical contact with neither the guidewire nor withtubular segments 457 and 458. Alternatively, tubular segment 456 may bemade of an insulating material (e.g., polymer, Ceramic). Tubular segment458 is partially coated with an electrical insulating material. Reduceddiameter section 464 is fully coated with an electrical insulatingmaterial while regular section 465 may be partially coated. Thus,tubular segment 458 does not form an electrical contact with tubularsegments 457 and 456. In FIG. 6A segments 456, 457 and 458 of malecoupler 455 are illustrated separately.

FIG. 6B illustrates a perspective schematic illustration of male coupler455 assembled. Reduced diameter section 461 is inserted in the guidewire(not shown). Reduced diameter section 463 (FIG. 6A—not shown in FIG. 6B)is inserted into one side tubular segment 457. Reduced diameter section464 (FIG. 6A—not shown in FIG. 6B) is inserted into the other side oftubular segment 457. Since tubular sections 457 and 458 are made ofconducting metal, and do not form an electrical contact there betweentubular sections 457 and 458 form two conducting rings. These conductingrings are coupled with a twisted pair of wires (no shown), exitingthrough slits 459 and 460. The twisted pair lead to and are coupled witha sensor (also not shown), placed along the length of the guidewire.Thus the sensor may be coupled with an external device via theconducting rings and a female coupler (not shown).

Reference is now made to FIG. 6C, which is a schematic cross-sectionillustration of a guidewire male coupler, generally reference 480, alonga plane parallel to the length of male coupler 480, constructed andoperative in accordance with another embodiment of the disclosedtechnique. In FIG. 6C, male coupler 480 is assembled and inserted into aguidewire 482. Guidewire 482 includes a hollow tube. The length of malecoupler 480 is delineated by a bracket 483. Male coupler 480 includesthree tubular segments, tubular segment 486, tubular segment 490 andtubular segment 494.

Tubular segment 486 includes two reduced diameter sections delineated bybracket 485 and 489, and a regular section delineated by a bracket 487between the reduced diameter sections 484 and 489. Tubular segment 490includes a slit 495. Tubular segment 494 includes slit 497, a reduceddiameter section delineated by bracket 491 and a regular sectiondelineated by bracket 493.

The outer diameter of reduced diameter section 485 is slightly smallerthan the inner diameter of the hollow tube of guidewire 482. The outerdiameters of regular sections 493 and 497 are substantially similar tothe outer diameter the hollow tube of guidewire 482. The outer diameterof reduced diameters sections 489 and 491 are slightly small then theinner diameter of tubular segment 490. The outer diameter of tubularsegment 490 is substantially similar to the outer diameter of the hollowtube of guidewire.

Tubular segments 486, 490 and 494 are made of a conducting metal (e.g.,Nirosta stainless steel, Nitinol). Alternatively, tubular segment 486may be made of an insulating material (e.g., polymer, ceramic). Reduceddiameter section 485 of tubular segment 486 is coated with an insulatinglayer 484 made of an insulating material (e.g., insulating glue,insulating polymer, Alumina). Reduced diameter section 485 of tubularsegment 486 is inserted into the hollow tube of guidewire 482. Tubularsegment 486 and guidewire 482 do not form an electrical contact therebetween due to insulating layer 484. Reduced diameter section 489 oftubular segment 486 is coated with an insulating layer 488. Reduceddiameter section 489 of tubular segment 486 is inserted into one side oftubular segment 490. Tubular segment 486 and tubular segment 490 do notform an electrical contact there between due to insulating layer 488.Reduced diameter section 491 of tubular segment 494 is coated with aninsulating layer 492. Reduced diameter section 491 of tubular segment494 is inserted into the other side of tubular segment 490. Tubularsegment 494 and tubular segment 490 do not form an electrical contactthere between due to insulating layer 492. Thus, tubular segment 494 andtubular segments 490 form two conducting rings. These conducting ringsare coupled with a twisted pair of wires 496. One of the wires oftwisted pair 496 exits through slit 495 and is coupled with tubularsegment 490 (e.g., by welding, soldering, bonding or gluing withconducting glue). The other wire of twisted pair 496 exists through slit497 and is coupled with tubular segment. Thus, sensor, placed along thelength of guidewire 482 may be coupled with an external device via theconducting rings and a female coupler (not shown).

It is noted that the order of insertion of tubular segments 486, 490 and494 into the hollow tube of guide wire 482 may be changed. For example,tubular section 494 is inserted into the hollow tube of guidewire 482.Reduced diameter section 468 of tubular segment 486 is inserted intoregular section 493 of tubular segment 494. Reduced diameter section 489of tubular segment 486 is inserted into tubular segment 490. Accordingto a further embodiment of the disclosed technique, tubular segments 490and 486 may be replaced with a tubular segment similar to tubularsegment 494. Accordingly reduced diameter section 491 of tubular segment494 is inserted into the hollow tube of guidewire 482 and the reduceddiameter of the tubular segment similar to tubular segment 494 isinserted into regular section 493 of tubular segment 494.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 7A and 7B, which are illustrations ofcross-sectional views of a disposable part, generally referenced 500, ina female coupler, constructed and operative in accordance with anotherembodiment of the disclosed technique. FIG. 7A is a longitudinalcross-section of disposable part 500. Disposable part 500 includes adisposable tubular body 502, conducting springs 504A, 504B and 504C, asheath 506, a collet chunk 508 and a collet cup 510. Tubular body 502 isessentially in the shape of a tube with an open end and a closed end,having an inner diameter 512 and an outer diameter 514. Sheath 506further includes two locking juts 507A and 507B. The purpose of lockingjuts 507A and 507B is explained below in conjunction with FIGS. 9A and9B. Inner diameter 512 of disposable tubular body 502 is slightly largerthan the outer diameter of the male connector (e.g., the male coupler ofFIG. 4B). Inner diameter 512 is on the order of hundreds of micrometers(e.g., 355 micrometers).

Conducting springs 504A, 504B and 504C are coupled with disposabletubular body 502 such that each spring has a portion thereof in contactwith the inner wall of disposable tubular body 502 and a portion incontact with the outer wall of disposable tubular body 502. Collet chunk508 is coupled with disposable tubular body 502 at the open end oftubular body 502. Sheath 506 is coupled with disposable tubular body 502at the open end of disposable tubular body 502 and extends toward theclosed end of disposable tubular body 502. Locking juts 507A and 507Bare located at the end of sheath 506 that extends toward the closed endof disposable tubular body 502. FIG. 7B is a lateral cross-section ofdisposable part 500 at dash-dot line 518 (FIG. 5A). The shape of thelateral cross-section of conducting spring 504C represents an exemplaryembodiment thereof. The lateral cross-section of conduction spring 504Cmay exhibit other shapes such as the shape of the letter S, or the shapeof two C's one on top of the other. It is noted that typicallyconducting springs 504A and 504B are similar to conducting spring 504C.

As mentioned above, collet chunk 508 is coupled with disposable tubularbody 502. Collet chunk 508 has an inner diameter substantially similarto that of the male connector. For example, diameter 518 is in the orderof hundreds of micrometers (e.g., 350 micrometers). The purpose colletchunk 508 is to secure the guidewire in place and prevent longitudinaland torsional slip of the guidewire. When collet cup 510 is screwed ontocollet chunk 508, collet cup 510 exerts a longitudinal force on colletchunk 508. Collet chunk 508 transforms this longitudinal force to acentripetal force.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 8A and 8B which are illustrations ofcross-sectional views of a non-disposable part, generally referenced520, in a female coupler, constructed and operative in accordance with afurther embodiment of the disclosed technique. Non-disposable part 520includes a non-disposable tubular body 522, contacts 524A, 524B and524C, a shielding tube 526, a twisted pair of wires 528 referred toherein as twisted pair 528, a ground wire 530, a wiring sheath 544 and asterile sleeve 542. Non-disposable tubular body 522 includes a cavity538 between the inner and outer walls thereof.

Contacts 524A, 524B and 524C are coupled with non-disposable tubularbody 522. Shielding tube 526 is also coupled with non-disposable tubularbody 522. Twisted pair 528 is coupled with contacts 524A and 524B (e.g.,by welding or bonding). Ground wire 530 is coupled with contact 524C(e.g., by welding or bonding). Twisted pair 528 and ground wire 530 areinserted into wiring sheath 544. Non-disposable part 520, with themajority of wiring sheath 544, is draped in a sterile sleeve 542.Sterile sleeve 542 has an opening ripped therein (not shown), at theopen end of non-disposable tubular body 522 (e.g., as two slitsexhibiting the shape of a cross).

The circumference of contacts 524A, 524B and 524C exhibits the shape ofan arc with a subtending angle on the order of at most tens of degrees.The inner face of each of contacts 524A, 524B and 524C faces intonon-disposable tubular body 522 and the outer face of each of contacts524A, 524B and 524C faces cavity 538. Contacts 524A, 524B and 524Cencircles a portion of the inner wall of tubular body 522 relative tothe subtending angle of contacts 524A, 524B and 524C. The shape of thelongitudinal cross-section of contacts 524A, 524B and 524C is that of arectangle. It is noted that this shape is an exemplary embodiment. Thelongitudinal cross-section of contacts 524A, 524B and 524C may exhibitother shapes such as the shape of the letter S and the shape of theletter C. In general, the shape of contacts 524A, 524B and 524C shouldcreate a spring force on conducting springs 504A, 504B and 504C (FIG.7A).

The inner diameter of contacts 524A, 524B and 524C and of non-disposabletubular body 522 is on the order of millimeters (e.g., typically betweenfive to six millimeters) such that a disposable part, such as disposablepart 500, fits into non-disposable tubular body 522. Twisted pair 528and ground wire 530 pass within cavity 538. Shielding tube 526 iscoupled with non-disposable tubular body 522 such that shielding tube526 shields twisted pair 528 and ground wire 530 in cavity 538 fromelectromagnetic interferences. Shielding tube 526 is typically made of aferromagnetic material (e.g. a μ-metal or nickel-iron). FIG. 8B is alateral cross-section of non-disposable part 520 at dash-dot line 540(FIG. 8A)

Reference is now made to FIG. 9 which is an illustration of across-sectional view of a male coupler, generally referenced 560,constructed and operative in accordance with another embodiment of thedisclosed technique. Male connector 560 includes a tube 562, two maleconducting rings 564A and 564B and two respective insulating layers 566Aand 566B. Male conducting rings 564A and 564B are coupled with tube 562via insulating layers 566A and 566B respectively. It is noted that maleconnector 560 may be any one of the male couplers described hereinabovein conjunction with FIGS. 1B, 3A, 3B, 3C, 4A, 4B, 5, 6A, 6B and 6C.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 10A and 10B. FIG. 10A is an illustrationof a cross-sectional view of the disposable part of FIG. 7A insertedinto the non-disposable part of FIG. 8A, constructed and operative inaccordance with a further embodiment of the disclosed technique.Disposable part 500 is inserted into non-disposable part 520 through theopening in sterile sleeve 542. When disposable part 500 is inserted intonon-disposable part 520, sheath 506 slides over body 522 ofnon-disposable part 520. Once disposable part 500 is fully inserted intonon-disposable part 520, locking juts 507A and 507B slide over the endof non-disposable tubular body 522, thus locking disposable part 500 innon-disposable part 520. When disposable part 500 is locked intonon-disposable part 520, conducting springs 504A, 504B and 504C are inelectrical contact with contacts 524A, 524B and 524C respectively.

FIG. 10B is an illustration of a cross-sectional view of the disposablepart of FIG. 7A inserted into the non-disposable part of FIG. 8A and themale coupler of FIG. 9 inserted into the disposable part of FIG. 7A,constructed and operative in accordance with a further embodiment of thedisclosed technique. Male connector 560 is inserted into disposable part500 through the opening in sterile sleeve 542. Thus both male and femaleconnectors are covered with sterile sleeve 542 allowing an operator totouch the male and female connectors with a substantially reduced riskof contamination. Male connector 560 is inserted into the open end ofdisposable tubular body 502. Once male connector 560 is fully insertedinto the open end disposable tubular body 502, male conducting rings564A and 564B are in electrical contact with conducting springs 504A and504B. Conducting spring 504C is in electrical contact with the body oftube 562. Thus, male conducting rings 564A and 564B are electricallycoupled with twisted pair 528 and tube 562 is electrically coupled withground wire 530. When male connector 560 is fully inserted intodisposable tubular body 502, collet cup 510 is screwed onto collet chunk508 and exerts a longitudinal force on collet chunk 508. Collet chunk508 transforms this longitudinal force to a centripetal force thussecuring the male connector in place and preventing longitudinal andtorsional slip of the guidewire.

Reference is now made to FIG. 11, which is an isometric perspectiveillustration of a disposable part and a non-disposable part of a femalecoupler, constructed and operative in accordance with another embodimentof the disclosed technique. Collet cup 510 and sheath 506 of disposablepart 500 and disposable tubular body 522 of non-disposable part 520 areseen.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the disclosedtechnique is not limited to what has been particularly shown anddescribed hereinabove. Rather the scope of the disclosed technique isdefined only by the claims, which follow.

1. A male coupler for a guidewire, said guidewire having a hollow walledtube, said male coupler comprising: a connector section, coupled withsaid guidewire, a portion of said connector section having a diametersmaller than the diameter of said hollow tube; at least one conductingring coupled with said connector section where said diameter of saidconnector section is smaller than said diameter of said guidewire;wherein the diameter of said connector section and said at least oneconducting ring substantially equals the diameter of said guidewire.2-68. (canceled)